465
gun deaths in Minnesota, including
37
children and teens
(ages 0-19)
22%
Homicides comprised nearly 1/4 of gun deaths
75%
Suicides comprised 3/4 of gun deaths
88%
of gun death victims were male
8th
lowest gun death rate in the country in 2019

GUN DEATHS BY INTENT, 2019

In 2019, 465 Minnesotans died by gun violence. Suicides were 75% of the gun deaths and homicides were 22%.

Number of deaths

TRENDS OVER TIME

While one year does not denote a trend, the overall gun death rate increased nearly 4% from 2018 to 2019, due directly to the rise in homicides. The firearm homicide rate increased 46% during that time period, reaching its highest rate over the last decade. Suicides continue to make up the majority of gun deaths in the state, though the rate decreased nearly 5% during that time period.

Age-adjusted rate per 100,000

Total gun death rate
Firearm homicide rate
Firearm suicide rate

County Variations

Age-adjusted gun death rate per 100,000

  • 4.80 to 7.50
  • 7.51 to 10.21
  • 10.22 to 12.92
  • 12.93 to 15.77
  • Suppressed /
    Unreliable

Among the counties in Minnesota, Wadena County had the highest gun death rate, followed by Otter Tail County and Cass County.

Conversely, Kandiyohi County had the lowest gun death rate, followed by Rice County and Washington County.

Notes:

  • The CDC suppresses data in which fewer than 10 deaths are reported in a given time frame and considers firearm death rates based on fewer than 20 deaths “statistically unreliable.” Counties that meet this criteria are labeled “Suppressed/Unreliable.”
  • Based on a ten-year average (2010-2019).

FIREARM HOMICIDES

102
firearm homicides in 2019, including
11
children and teens
7th
lowest firearm homicide rate in the U.S.

Gun Deaths by Intent

Nearly 1/4 of gun deaths were homicides in 2019.

Homicide by Method

2/3 of homicides were committed with firearms in 2019.

Demographics

In Minnesota, young Black males are disproportionately impacted by firearm homicide. Black males aged 15-34 have a firearm homicide rate 28 times higher than White males of the same age group.

Note: Based on a five-year average (2015-2019).

FIREARM SUICIDES

350
firearm suicides in 2019, including
25
children and teens
11th
lowest firearm suicide rate in the U.S.

Gun Deaths by Intent

3/4 of gun deaths were suicides in 2019.

Suicide by Method

More than 2/5 of all suicides were by firearm in 2019.

Demographics

White males ages 75+ are at highest risk for firearm suicide in Minnesota.

Note: Based on a five-year average (2015-2019).

RESOURCES

Additional Information

Notes

  • All rates listed are age-adjusted in order to allow for accurate comparisons between populations with different age distributions.
  • All data is from 2019, the most recent year of data available, unless otherwise indicated.
  • Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Health Statistics. WONDER Online Database, 1999-2019. Available: http://wonder.cdc.gov/ucd-icd10.html.

Last updated February 2021